2005 press releases

U.S. Embassy Statement on Press Day (May 3, 2005)

On May 3 International Press Freedom Day was commemorated. The American people strongly believe a free press is critical to the development and defense of a democratic and pluralistic society. Every democratic nation, including the United States, needs a strong and independent press to bring abuses to light, provide citizens with objective news and commentary and defend the rights of citizens.

Sadly the OSCE Representative on Freedom of Media, after visiting Belarus, reported that in Belarus independent press remains under great pressure from governmental authorities, which seek to control and limit its development. The report indicated the Belarusian people have ever fewer sources of independent information other than those controlled by the Belarusian authorities. The non-government supported press is routinely denied distribution and printing facilities, and they and their journalists often face fines and suspensions and even imprisonment for simply publishing articles and views critical of Belarusian authorities. Belarusian authorities have also not made a good faith effort to investigate the disappearance of prominent journalist Dmitry Zavadsky and have not come to conclusions on the brutal murder of the well respected journalist Veronica Cherkassova.

The United States joins the OSCE Representative's recommendations in calling on the Belarusian government to respect and implement Belarusian law guaranteeing Belarusians a free press. The United States also calls on Belarusian authorities to conduct serious, impartial investigations of the disappearances and murders of journalists  and to cease its repressive actions against individual journalists and their publications. During this week when we commemorate press freedom, all citizens, American and Belarusian alike, should recognize that only a truly open democratic media can create the atmosphere of debate that can allow our peoples, having heard the views of many of their fellow citizens, to judge and determine their future for themselves. We also bow our heads to all those journalists, current and past, who have suffered and continue to suffer for upholding the freedom and dignity of their noble profession.